Viet Cong Veteran Dao Van Duc Reed Helmet.

Viet Cong Veteran Dao Van Duc Reed Helmet.
This VC woven reed sun helmet is part of an extraordinary grouping of Viet Cong flags, memorabilia and soldier personal items acquired in Vietnam by Mr. Jean Phillipe Martinet from Viet Cong veteran Dao Van Duc. In addition to two Viet Cong (VC) flags, the grouping contained many of the ephemeral personal items a VC soldier would have for use in the field, including: an enameled metal eating bowl with an attachment ring; two sets of chopsticks, one aluminum the other ebony; two knives, one a belt knife the other a utility camp knife; a homemade web equipment belt, an oil lamp, two lighters, a woven pith helmet, a VC insignia, a selection of VC medals, a VC newspaper dated 2 September 1968 and a VC propaganda booklet about the Battle of Keh Sanh also dated 1968.

While Vietnam War souvenirs and GI Bringbacks are relatively common; but groupings of personal VC equipment rarely leave Vietnam and are uncommon in the West. They reveal a great deal about the life of the average VC soldier, most of the equipment being homemade field expedients Interesting are the knives; both are believed to have been made in the field, the handles of the camp knife seem to be made of Plexiglas, possible salvaged from an American aircraft. Likewise for the aluminum chopsticks, they are also likely salvaged from aircraft aluminum.

Mr. Martinet acquired these artifacts while he was employed by the venerable French water company Lyonnaise des Eaux which specializes in water services and sanitation for local communities and industry in France and former French possessions. From 1989 to 1998 Mr. Martinet traveled often in the Ty Ninh area, and befriended the Viet Cong veteran Dao Van Duc and his family from Trai Bi, between Tay Ninh and the Cambodian Border.

Ty Ninh is the name of both a city and a province of Vietnam. The town is located approximately 90 kilometers (54 miles) northwest of Hồ Ch Minh City, Vietnams capital and largest city. Ty Ninh is most famous for being the home of the Cao Đi religion a syncretistic, monotheistic religion; an indigenous Vietnamese faith that includes the teachings of the major world religions. The Cao Đi religions Holy See, built between 1933 and 1955, is located around 5 km to the east of Ty Ninhs town centre.

It is not known where Dao Van Duc served while he was with the VC; but during the Vietnam War, Ty Ninh was the site of large semi-permanent US hospital, the 45th Surgical Hospital. The 45th was a Medical Unit Self-Contained Transportable (MUST) unit, established in 1966 the hospital was the site of numerous VC mortar and rocket attacks throughout its existence.

After the war Dao Van Duc became a municipal official of the city council of Cu Chi, a suburb of Hồ Ch Minh City and the nexus of the Viet Congs Cu Chi tunnel complex, which was a major base of operations from which the Viet Cong participated in the Tet Offensive in January & February 1968.

This Viet Cong jungle sun helmet is typical of the field expedients with which the VC had to contend; it was woven from readily available reeds. It mimics the style and shape of the traditional pith helmets made famous by the British in India. This VC helmet differs fro other war memorabilia in collections and institutions in the US, was neither captured nor taken as either a trophy or booty, but rather a gift from a veteran you survived the war and kept it with his effects.

ZFC Significant Flag

Sources:

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National Liberation Front (Vietcong), Flags of the World, 17 November 2011, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/vn-vcong.html

Vietcong, Wikipedia, 17 November 2011, from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viet_Cong

Ty Ninh, Wikipedia, 17 November 2011, from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tay_Ninh

Caodaism, 17 November 2011, from:
http://www.wix.com/lamdathoa/intro/page-1

Muzzio, Robert, The History of the 45th Surgical Hospital, 45th SURGICAL HOSPITAL TAY NINH VIET NAM 17 November 2011, from:
http://the45thsurg.freeservers.com/History.html

Củ Chi tunnels, Wikipedia, 17 November 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%E1%BB%A7_Chi_tunnels

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	10.5
Length of Fly	12

Stripes
Size of Hoist	5.75

Frame
Is it framed?	no

Stars
Are there stars on obverse?	no
Are there stars on reverse?	no

Stripes
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Fabric
Comments on Fabric	Bamboo

Weave
Type of Weave	Plain

Applica
Applique Sides	Double Faced = Reads correctly on both sides

Documentation
Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Drawings	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.

Condition
Condition	Good
Damage	Used. Worn.
Displayable	no

Date
Date	1968